LT. DAN Get down! Shut up!

FORREST (voice-over) So we did.

Lt. Dan motions for the lead soldier to get down. Lt. Dan crouches down. Lt. Dan looks at the soldiers and points to his eyes. He lies down on the dirt road and crawls.

FORREST (voice-over) Now, I don't know much about anything, but I think some of American's best young men served in this war. There was Dallas, from Phoenix. Cleveland, he was Detroit.

CLEVELAND Hey, Tex. Hey, Tex. Man, what the hell's going on? Tex holds up his hand, motioning that he doesn't know.

FORREST (voice-over) And Tex was, well, I don't remember where Tex come from.

LT. DAN Ah, nothin'. Fourth Platoon, on your feet! Still got ten clicks to go to that river.

Forrest stands up and begins to walk with the platoon.

LT. DAN All right, move out! Comin' out. Look alive out there.

FORREST (voice-over) The good thing about Vietnam is there was always someplace to go.

LT. DAN (voice-over) Fire in the hole!

EXT. VIETNAM/VIET CONG FOXHOLE - ANOTHER DAY

Lt. Dan walks away as Forrest rushes over, aims two pistols in the hole, then climbs inside.

FORREST (voice-over) And there was always something to do.

LT. DAN Mount 'em up.

SGT. SIMS Spread out! Cover his back.

ANOTHER DAY -

The platoon walks through a rice paddy, waits deep in water. It begins to rain.

FORREST (voice-over) One day it started raining, and it didn't quit for four months.

EXT. JUNGLE

The rain pours down on Forrest and Bubba as they sit in a foxhole.

FORREST (voice-over) We been through every kind of rain there is. Little bitty stingin' rain...

ANOTHER DAY -

The platoon walks through the jungle as rain pours down on them.

FORREST (voice-over) ... and big ol' fat rain.

ANOTHER DAY -

The platoon shelters themself as they walks through the wind and rain.

FORREST (voice-over) Rain that flew in sideways.

ANOTHER DAY -

Forrest and other soldiers walk chest-deep through a river. The rain splatters back up from the river, hitting the soldiers. Forrest holds his hand up to protect his face.

FORREST (voice-over) And sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath.

EXT. ENCHAMPMENT - NIGHT

The rain pours down on the men of the platoon as they sit in a camp. Bubba sits down next to Forrest.

FORREST (voice-over) Shoot, it even rained at night.

Bubba leans his back up against Forrest's back.

BUBBA Hey Forrest...

FORREST Hey Bubba...

BUBBA I'm gonna lean up against you, you just lean right back against me. This way, we don't have to sleep with our heads in the mud. You know why we a good partnership, Forrest? 'Cause we be watchin' out for one another. Like brothers and stuff. Hey, Forrest, there's somethin' I've been thinkin' about. I got a very important question to ask you. How would you like to go into the shrimpin' business with me?

FORREST Okay.

BUBBA Man, I tell you what, I got it all figured out, too.

So many pounds of shrimp to pay off the boat, so many

pounds for gas, we can just live right on the boat.

We ain't got to pay no rent. I'll be the captain; we

can just work it together. Split everything right down

the middle. Man, I'm tellin' you, fifty-fifty. And,

hey, Forrest, all the shrimp you can get.

FORREST That's a fine idea.

FORREST (voice-over) Bubba did have a fine idea.

ANOTHER NIGHT

Some soldiers patrol the area. Forrest lies in a pup tent and writes a litter as the rain pours down. He uses his flashlight to see.

FORREST (voice-over) I even wrote and told her all about it. I sent her letters. Not every day, but almost. I told her what I was doin' and asked her what she was doing, and I told her how I thought about her always.

EXT. 'S GRANDMOTHER'S TRAILER - DAY

steps out of the trailer with a backpack and a guitar. She hugs a hippie guy, then jumps into the back of a Volkswagen bus with another guy.

FORREST (voice-over) And how I was looking forward to getting a letter from her just as soon as she had the time I'd always let her know that I was okay.

EXT. VIETNAM - NIGHT

Forrest writes a letter in his tent.

FORREST (voice-over) Then I'd sign each letter, "Love, Forrest Gump."

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

The Fourth Platoon makes their way through the jungle and rain.

SONG "There's something happenin' here. What it is ain't exactly clear. There's a man with a gun over there, telling' me I got to beware."

FORREST (voice-over) This one day, we was out walking, like always, and then, just like that, somebody turned off the rain and the sun come out.

Forrest looks up as the sun suddenly appears. Forrest's platoon is attacked. A bullet kills the soldier standing next to Forrest. Bombs explode all around as the soldiers scramble to the ground.

LT. DAN Take cover!

Forrest crawls over a berm as bullets fly overhead and explode all around him. Forrest rolls over and pulls his pack off Lt. Dan lies next to Forrest.

LT. DAN Get that pig up here, goddammit!

BUBBA Forrest, you okay?

Two soldiers with a machine gun fire into the jungle. Lt. Dan shouts into the radio. Forrest begins firing his weapon into the jungle.

LT. DAN ...Strongarm, please be advised...

Two soldiers pull a wounded soldier into the jungle.

BUBBA Medic, we got a man down!

LT. DAN Strongarm, this is Leg Lima 6, over! Roger, Strongarm, be advised we have incoming from the treeline at point blue plus two. A.K's and rockets...

The machine gunner fires into the treeline. Another soldier helps him with the ammunition. The machine gun jams.

SOLDIER WITH BIG MACHINE GUN Misfire! Misfire!

LT. DAN Goddammit, Mac! Get that pig unfucked and get it in the treeline!

A rocket explodes on the machine gunner and the other soldier, killing them. Forrest looks down and covers his head as rockets explodes all around him.

LT. DAN (into radio) Ah, Jesus! My unit is down hard and hurting! 6 pulling back to the blue line, Leg Lima 6 out! Pull back! Pull back!

BUBBA Forrest! Run! Run, Forrest!

LT. DAN Pull back!

BUBBA Forrest! Run! Run, Forrest! Run! Run!

SGT. SIMS Pull back! Let's go!

Lt. Dan gets up and grabs Forrest by the collar.

LT. DAN Run, goddammit, run!

The platoon gets up and runs toward the cover of the jungle. Rockets explode all around the field. Forrest runs into the jungle. The soldiers run through the jungle as bullets explode all around. A soldier is blown up by a rocket. A soldier runs through the jungle. Forrest runs past the soldier.

SOLDIER Medic! Medic! Jesus, can I get a medic?

FORREST (voice-over) I ran and ran, just like told me to.

Rockets explode in the jungle as Forrest runs out toward a clearing.

FORREST (voice-over) I ran so far and so fast that pretty soon I was all by myself, which was a bad thing.

FORREST Bubba!

Forrest turns around, then runs back into the jungle.

FORREST (voice-over) Bubba was my best good friend. I had to make sure he was okay.

Rockets explode in the jungle. Forrest runs back into the jungle to look for Bubba.

1ST SOLDIER Any friendlies out there?

2ND SOLDIER Yeah, I've got three over there.

1ST SOLDIER Where the hell are you?

Forrest stops and aims his weapon. He looks around, scared.

FORREST Bubba?

Something moves. Forrest turns and looks, then rushes over.

FORREST (voice-over) And on my way back to find Bubba, well, there was this boy laying on the ground.

FORREST Tex!

Tex lies on the ground, his face distorted with pain.

FORREST Okay.

Forrest reaches down and picks up Tex from the ground. Forrest pulls Tex up over his shoulder, then runs.

FORREST (voice-over) I couldn't just let him lay there all alone, scare the way he was, so I grabbed him up and run him out of there.

Forrest carries Tex out of the jungle and into the clearing. He sets Tex down on the bank of a river, and runs back into the jungle.

FORREST (voice-over) And every time I went back looking for Bubba, somebody else was saying, "Help me, Forrest. Help me."

Forrest drops another wounded soldier down at the bank of the river next to Tex, and then runs back toward the jungle. Forrest grabs the third wounded soldier up from the ground and turns him over. It is DALLAS.

DALLAS Can't hear... Can't hear...

Dallas is dropped off at the bank next to the other wounded soldiers. Forrest turns to go back to the jungle.

2ND WOUNDED SOLDIER No sweat, man. Just lay back. You're gonna be okay. You're gonna be okay.

FORREST (voice-over) I started to get scared that I might never find Bubba.

STRONGARM (over radio) You're danger close for crack air, over.

Forrest trips over something and falls to the ground. He looks up to find two bloody legs. It is Lt. Dan, who is wounded. He speaks into the radio.

LT. DAN (into radio) Roger, Strongarm, I know my position is danger close! We got Charlie all over this area! I gotta have those fast movers in here now! Over!

STRONGARM (over radio) Six, Strongarm, we want...

FORREST Lieutenant Dan, Coleman's dead!

LT. DAN I know he's dead! My whole goddamned platoon is wiped out!

STRONGARM (over radio) Leg Lima 6, Leg Lima 6, how copy you this transmission? Over.

Forrest tries to pick up Lt. Dan, who tries to push Forrest away.

LT. DAN Goddammit! What are you doing? Leave me here! Get away. Just leave me here! Get out!

Forrest pulls Lt. Dan over his shoulder and runs through the jungle.

STRONGARM

Leg Lima 6, Leg Lima 6. This is Strongarm, be advised, your fast movers are inbound at this time, over.

FORREST (voice-over) Then it felt like something just jumped up and bit me.

Forrest falls down.

FORREST Ah, something bit me!

Forrest gets up as Lt. Dan yells. Lt. Dan fires his pistol at the unseen enemy as Forrest pulls him away.

LT. DAN You dink son-of-a-bitch! I can't leave the platoon! I told you to leave me there, Gump. Forget about me. Get yourself out! Did you hear what I said! Goddammit, pull me down! Get your ass out of here!

Forrest drops Lt. Dan down at the bank, next to the other wounded soldiers. Lt. Dan grabs Forrest by the shirt, angry.

LT. DAN I didn't ask you to pull me out of there, goddamn you! What the hell do you think you're going?

FORREST To get Bubba.

LT. DAN I got an air strike inbound right now. They're gonna nape the whole area.

Forrest gets up and runs as Lt. Dan yells after him.

LT. DAN Gump, you stay here, goddammit! That's an order!

FORREST I gotta find Bubba!

Forrest runs through the jungle searching for Bubba. Forest slows down and looks around carefully.

BUBBA Forrest...

FORREST Bubba...

Bubba looks up as he lies on the ground.

BUBBA I'm okay.

Bubba holds a palm frond over his wound. Forrest removes the frond to look at the wound. Bubba's chest has been blown open.

FORREST Oh, Bubba, no...

BUBBA Naw, I'm gonna be all right.

Forrest looks around as he hear the voices of the enemy.

FORREST Come on. Come on. Come here...

Forrest carries Bubba through the jungle. The sound of approaching planes fills the air.

BUBBA I'm okay, Forrest. I'm all right.

The roar of approaching planes is deafening. Forrest looks up in fear. Three planes dive down toward the jungle. They fire napalm as the jungle explodes with massive fireballs. Forrest runs, carrying Bubba. The fireballs explode behind him. The entire jungle area is in flames as Forrest runs. Forrest carries Bubba to the bank of the river. Lt. Dan and the other wounded soldiers wait for a rescue helicopter.

LT. DAN Helo's inbound. Top smoke, get it up there!

FORREST (voice-over) If I'd a known this was gonna be the last time me and Bubba was gonna talk, I'd a thought of something better to say.

Forrest looks down at Bubba. A soldier releases a smoke canister.

FORREST Hey, Bubba...

BUBBA Hey, Forrest. Forrest, why'd this happen?

FORREST You got shot.

FORREST (voice-over) Then Bubba said something I won't even forget.

BUBBA I wanna go home.

FORREST Bubba was my best good friend. And even I know that ain't something you can find just around the corner. Bubba was gonna be a shrimpin' boat captain, but instead he died right there by that river in Vietnam.

The helicopter fly overhead.

BUS STATION - DAY

Forrest continues with his life story. A MAN is sitting next to Forrest on the bus bench.

FORREST That's all I have to say about that.

MAN It was a bullet, wasn't it?

FORREST A bullet?

MAN That jumped up and bit you.

FORREST Oh, yes sir. Bit me directly in the buttocks. They said it was a million-dollar wound, but the Army must keep that money, 'cause I still ain't seen a nickel of that million dollars. The only good thing about being wounded in the buttocks...

Flashback - INT. US. ARMY HOSPITAL/VIETNAM - DAY

Forrest holds two ice cream cones in his hands as he is wheeled on a rolling stretcher.

FORREST (voice-over) ...is the ice cream. They gave me all the ice cream I could eat. And guess what. A good friend of mine was in the bed right next door.

Forrest, lying on his stomach, is wheeled to his bed. Forrest's butt sticks up and is bandaged. Forrest looks at Lt. Dan lying on the bed. Forrest holds out an ice cream cone for Lt. Dan.

FORREST Lieutenant Dan, I got you some ice cream. Lieutenant Dan, ice cream.

Lt. Dan, annoyed, takes the ice cream cone and drops it into his bed pan. Forrest slides himself onto his bed. A NURSE reaches toward Lt. Dan.

MALE NURSE It's time for your bath, Lieutenant.

The male nurse places Lt. Dan's hands on a pull-up bar, then picks up Lt. Dan, whose legs have been amputated.

MALE NURSE Harper...

Another nurse wheels the rolling bed under Lt. Dan. The male nurse sets Lt. Dan down on the rolling bed. Forrest looks up at Lt. Dan as he is wheeled away. A soldier reads the names from a pile of letters.

SOLDIER Cooper, Larson, Webster, Gump, Gump...

FORREST I'm Forrest Gump.

The soldier hands Forrest a large pile of letters. "Undeliverable as addressed. No forwarding order on file." Curran Rural Route 2 Greenbow, Ala. 39902 Forrest looks down at the pile of letters.

INT. ARMY HOSPITAL/VIETNAM - DAY

A group of wounded soldiers hang out in the hospital, recuperating. Forrest sits and watches "Gomer Pyle" on the television.

SOLDIER

Gump, how can you watch that stupid shit? Turn it off!

ANNOUNCER From the D.M.Z. to the Delta, you are tuned to the American Forces Vietnam Network. This is Channel 6, Saigon.

Forrest turns the TV off and he is hit on the back of the head by a ping-pong ball.

SOLDIER Good catch, Gump. You know how to play this?

Forrest shakes his head.

SOLDIER Come on, let me show you. Here.

The wounded ping-pong player hands Forrest a paddle. Forrest and the wounded ping-pong player step toward the ping-pong table.

SOLDIER Now the secret to this game is, no matter what happens, never, never take your eye off the ball.

He holds the ball up and moves it back and forth. Forrest keeps his eyes on the ball.

SOLDIER All right...

The wounded ping-pong player tosses the ball down onto the table. Forrest begins to hit the ball back to the other player.

FORREST (voice-over) For some reason, ping pong came very natural to me.

SOLDIER See, any idiot can play.

FORREST (voice-over) So I started playing it all the time.

Forrest hits ping-pong balls.

FORREST voice-over) I played ping-pong even when I didn't have anyone to play ping-pong with.

The balls at land in a bed pan positioned on a chair. A group of wounded soldier sit and watch Forrest play with himself. Forrest hits two balls at a time against the opposite side of the table.

FORREST (voice-over) The hospital's people said it made me look like a duck in water, whatever that means. Even Lieutenant Dan would come and watch me play.

Lt. Dan stares out the window. Forrest lies in his bed asleep. A hand reaches and grabs him.

FORREST (voice-over) I played ping-pong so much, I even played it in my sleep.

Lt. Dan pulls Forrest to the floor, and holds Forrest down.

LT. DAN Now, you listen to me. We all have a destiny. Nothing just happens, it's all part of a plan. I should have died out there with my men! But now, I'm nothing but a goddamned cripple! A legless freak.Look! Look! Look at me! Do you see that? Do you know what it's like not to be able to use your legs? 　

FORREST Well... Yes, sir, I do.

LT. DAN Did you hear what I said? You cheated me. I had a destiny. I was supposed to die in the field! With honor! That was my destiny! And you cheated me out of it! You understand what I'm saying, Gump? This wasn't supposed to happen. Not to me. I had a destiny. I was Lieutenant Dan Tyler.

FORREST Yo-You're still Lieutenant Dan.

Lt. Dan looks at Forrest, lets go of Forrest and rolls. Lt. Dan sits up as Forrest looks at him.

LT. DAN Look at me. What am I gonna do now? What am I gonna do now?

INT. REC ROOM/VIETNAM HOSPITAL - ANOTHER DAY

Forrest plays ping-pong by himself. An OFFICER walks up to him.

OFFICER P.F.C. Gump?

Forrest immediately grabs the ball and places it down on the table under its paddle. Stands at attention.

FORREST Yes, sir!

OFFICER As you were.

The officer holds up an envelope.

OFFICER Son, you've been awarded the Medal of Honor.

INT. VIETNAM HOSPITAL WARD

Forrest steps up to Lt. Dan's bed.

FORREST Guess what, Lieutenant Dan, they want to give me a me...

Forrest stops in mid-sentence as he looks down at the bed. A heavily bandaged soldier with bloodstains lies there. Forrest turns and look at the NURSE.

FORREST Ma'am, what'd they do with Lieutenant Dan?

Nurse They sent him home.

FORREST (voice-over) Two weeks later, I left Vietnam.

INT. BARBER SHOP/GREENBOW - DAY

ANCHORMAN (on T.V.) The ceremony was kicked off with a candid speech by the President regarding the need for further escalation of the war in Vietnam. President Johnson awarded four Medals of Honor to men from each of the Armed Services.

The television reveals Forrest as he is awarded the Medal of Honor by President Johnson.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON America owes you a debt of gratitude, son.

Color footage revealing President Johnson as he places the award around Forrest's neck and shakes hands.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON I understand you were wounded. Where were you hit?

FORREST In the buttocks, sir.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON Oh, that must be a sight.

President Johnson leans and whispers into Forrest's ear.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON I'd kinda like to see that.

INT. BARBER SHOP

The television revealing Forrest as he drops his pants, bends over and shows the bullet wound on his bare buttocks. President Johnson looks down and smiles. The three men in the barber shop look up in disbelief. looks up in shock.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON Goddamn, son.

EXT. LINCOLN MEMORIAL - DAY

Forrest walks by the Lincoln Memorial. A fence surrounds the Memorial, as well as armed military guards.

FORREST (voice-over) After that, Momma went to the hotel to lay down, so I went out for a walk to see our national capital.

ISABEL Hilary, all right, I've got the vets, what do you want me to do with them?

HILARY What are you doing here so late?

Forrest takes a photo of the memorial as a woman named Hilary gathers together some veterans against the Vietnam War.

HILARY We've been waiting for you for half an hour, so just get them in a line, will you. Hey, hey, come on, pictures later. You look great. Oh come on, get in this line, come on, come on right in line. Come on, let him here, let him in here.

Hilary grabs Forrest and puts him in the line with the other vets against the war.

FORREST (voice-over) It's a good thing Momma was resting, 'cause the street was awful crowded with people looking at all the statues and monuments. And some of them people were loud and pushy.

Hilary leads the line of vets toward the large anti-Vietnam War rally.

HILARY Okay, follow me! Come on.

The group of vets walk as Forrest tries to take another picture. A vet behind him pushes him along.

HILARY Let's move it out.

VET Hey, buddy, come on. We could use your help.

Forrest walks in the line. A banner reads "Veterans against the War in Vietnam."

FORREST (voice-over) Everywhere I went, I had to stand in line.

HILARY Follow me, let's go!

Hilary leads the vets through a crowd of people outside the rally. Another woman, named Isabel, leads the vets toward the back of a stage.

ISABEL All right, come on, guys.

HILARY Stand here.

VET Hey, you're a good man for doin' this. Good!

FORREST Okay.

A man, wearing an American flag shirt, stands on the stage. He is anti-war activist ABBIE HOFFMAN.

ABBIE HOFFMAN We must declare to that fucking impostor in the White House -- Johnson. We ain't going to work on your farm no more! Yeah!

FORREST (voice-over) There was this man, giving a little talk. And for some reason, he was wearing an American flag for a shirt...

ABBIE HOFFMAN Now, I'm going to bring up some soldiers that are going to talk about the war, man...

FORREST (voice-over) ... and he liked to say the "F" word. A lot. "F" this and "F" that. And every time...

ABBIE HOFFMAN ... that war has come home, and we have to stop these politicians...

FORREST (voice-over) ... he said "F" word, people, for some reason, well, they'd cheer.

ABBIE HOFFMAN .. these guys just told Lyndon Johnson where to stick this fucking war! Yeah!

Forrest looks up at the cheering crowd. Abbie turns and motions for Forrest to come up on the stage.

ABBIE HOFFMAN Come on, man. Come up here, man.

HILARY Come on. Come on. Yeah, you!

Hilary pulls Forrest up onto the stage.

HILARY Come on, get up there. Come on. Move, move. Let's go! Let's go.

The other vets follow Forrest pushes onto the stage and push him toward the microphones.

VET Come on, go. You can do it. Just get up there. Go on. That's it.

Thousands of cheering protestors stand around the Washington Monument. Forrest looks at the crowd. Abbie Hoffmann steps up to Forrest.

ABBIE HOFFMAN Tell us a little bit about the war, man.

FORREST The war in Vietnam?

ABBIE HOFFMAN The war in Viet-fucking-nam!

Abbie raises his fist as the crowd cheers wildly.

FORREST Well...

FORREST (voice-over) There was only one thing I could say about the war in Vietnam.

FORREST ... there was only one thing I could say about

the war in Vietnam.

Forrest looks at the crowd as he speaks. A policeman looks around as he sneaks over to the audio circuit board.

FORREST In Vietnam war...

The policeman pulls the patch cords out of the audio board. Forrest's amplified voice becomes inaudible. Forrest continues to speak into the microphone, even though no one can hear what he is saying. Hilary looks over and notices the policeman. Hilary rushes over toward the audio board, pushes the policeman away and grabs his night stick. Another protestor grabs the policeman and pulls him away.

POLICEMAN Hey, what the hell are you doing?

HILARY I'll beat your head in, you goddamned oinker!

Isabel, Hilary and another protestor try to plug the tangled mess of wires back into the audio board.

ISABEL Christ, what'd they do with this?

Forrest continues to speak into the microphone. The crowd grows restless.

CROWD We can't hear you! We can't hear anything!

HILARY This one! This one! Give me that!

Hilary plugs in the right patch cord.

HILARY That's it.

FORREST ... and that's all I have to say about that.

Forrest looks at the massive crowd. They are silent. Abbie Hoffman steps over to Forrest and pats him on the shoulder.

ABBIE HOFFMAN That's so right on, man. You said it all. What's your name, man?

FORREST My name is Forrest Gump. Forrest Gump.

ABBIE HOFFMAN Forrest Gump!

Abbie raises his fist into the air. Abbie steps away from Forrest. The crowd cheers.

CROWD Forrest Gump!

(screaming) Forrest! Forrest!

wades out into the reflection pool and waves her hand into the air. Forrest recognizes her.

FORREST Janey !

Forrest rushes off the stage as makes her way out into the pool.

Janey Forrest!

Forrest jumps down into the crowd and runs. smiles as she tries to run through the water. The crowd parts as Forrest runs into the pool. rushes toward him.

Janey Hey! Hey!

The massive crowd cheers for the embracing couple in the pool.

FORREST (voice-over) It was the happiest moment of my life.

EXT. WASHINGTON MONUMENT/PROTESTOR'S ENCAMPMENT - NIGHT

Forrest and walk past the protestors who are camping out on the lawn.

FORREST (voice-over) and me were just peas and carrots again. She showed me around, and even

introduced me...

INT. BLACK PANTHER HEADQUARTERS/STOREFRONT, D.C. - NIGHT

Forrest stands at an open window and looks at the White House.

FORREST (voice-over) ... to some of her new friends.

A Black Panther, named RUBEN, steps over and pulls the shades down.

RUBEN Shut that blind, man. And get your white ass away from that window. Don't you know we in war here?

Another Black Panther named MASAI grabs Forrest and pats him down.

Hey man, he's cool. He's cool. He's one of us.

He's one of us.

MASAI Let me tell you about us.

WESLEY Where the hell have you been? I ran into a friend.

MASAI Our purpose here is to protect our black leaders from the racial onslaught of the pig who wishes to brutalize our black leaders, rape our women, and destroy our black communists.

Black Panther Masai, phone. Talk to these guys.

WESLEY Who's the baby killer? This is my good friend I told you about. This is Forrest Gump. Forrest, this is Wesley. Wesley and I live together in Berkeley, and he's the president of the Berkeley chapter of S.D.S.

MASAI Let me tell you something else.

WESLEY I want to talk to you. Okay, but...

WESLEY No. Now! Goddammit!

MASAI We are here to offer protection and help for all of those who need our help, because we, the Black Panthers, are against the war in Vietnam. Yes, we are against any war where black soldiers are sent to the front line to die for a country that hates them. Yes, we are against any war where black soldiers go to fight and come to be brutalized and killed in their own communities as they sleep in their beds at night. Yes, we are against all these

racists and imperial dog acts. You are a fucking asshole!

Wesley hits across the face. Slow motion -- falls back. Slow motion -- Forrest steps forward with rage. Slow motion -- Wesley turns and looks at Forrest. Forrest tackles Wesley and slams him onto a table. turns and look as Masai pulls out a gun.

Janey Forrest! Quit it! Quit it! Forrest! Stop it!

rushes over to Forrest and pulls Forrest off Wesley.

Janey Stop it!

tries to help Wesley as he moans on the floor. Wesley knocks 's hand away. He gets up, holding his bloody lip.

WESLEY Oh, God. I shouldn't have brought you here. I

should have known it was just gonna be some bullshit hassle.

FORREST He should not be hitting you,

Janey Come on, Forrest.

steps out the door as Forrest picks up his hat.

FORREST Sorry I had a fight in the middle of your Black Panther party.

The group of Black Panthers glare at Forrest. Forrest turns and walks out the room.

EXT. WASHINGTON D.C. - NIGHT

Forrest and walk past the White House. Protectors hold a candlelight vigil behind them.

Janey He doesn't mean it when he does things like this. He doesn't.

FORREST I would never hurt you, .

Janey I know you wouldn't, Forrest.

FORREST I wanted to be your boyfriend.

They walk in silence. touches Forrest's uniform.

Janey That uniform is a trip, Forrest. You look handsome in it. You do.

FORREST You know what?

Janey What?

FORREST I'm glad we were here together in our national capitol.

Janey Me too, Forrest. I have so much to tell you, you won't believe what's been going on...

FORREST (voice-over) We waled around all night, and me, just talkin'.

EXT. ROUTE 66 - FLASHBACK - DAY

stands in the rain, hitchhiking. A car pulls over to pick her up. and other other girls get into the car.

FORREST (voice-over) She told me about all the travellin' she's done.

EXT. COMMUNE IN NEW MEXICO - NIGHT

A hippie gives a sugar cube of acid as they sit in front of a roaring fire.

FORREST (voice-over) And how she'd discovered ways to expand her mind and learn how to live in harmony...

EXT. HOLLYWOOD/WALK OF FAME - DAY

A star with the name "Jean Harlow" on the sidewalk. and two other girls sing on the sidewalk and collect change from the passersby. plays the guitar.

FORREST (voice-over) ... which must be out west somewhere, 'cause she made it all the way to California.

(sing) "Smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love on another right now"

A young hippie looks over his faded Volkswagen at the girls.

YOUNG HIPPIE Hey, anybody want to go to San Francisco?

FORREST I'll go.

YOUNG HIPPIE Far out!

EXT. WASHINGTON D.C. - DAWN

Forrest and walk through the park.

FORREST (voice-over) I was a very special night for the two of us.

EXT. PARKING LOT - EARLY MORNING

carries a backpack as she prepares to board a bus back to Berkeley.

FORREST I wish you wouldn't go, .

Janey I have to, Forrest.

WESLEY ? Things got a little out of hand. It's just this war and that, that lyin' son-of-a-bitch Johnson. I would never hurt you. You know that.

FORREST You know what I think? I think you should go home to Greenbow. Alabama!

Janey Forrest, we have very different lives, you know.

Forrest looks down at . He pulls his Medal of Honor from around his neck.

FORREST I want you to have this.

Forrest places the Medal of Honor in 's hand. looks up at him.

Janey Forrest, I can't keep this.

FORREST I got it just by doing what you told me to do.

Janey Why're you so good to me?

FORREST You're my girl.

Janey I'll always be your girl.

and Forrest hug each other. Wesley waits for . turns and walks up to Wesley. They walk toward the entrance of the bus. Forrest smiles as looks at her. climbs up into the bus. Wesley glares at Forrest. Forrest gives Wesley the "evil eye." through the near window of the bus, knocks on the window. Forrest turns and looks. waves to Forrest. Forrest looks up and smiles sadly. gives Forrest the peace sign as the bus pulls away. The sign on the back of the bus reads "Berkeley to D.C." Forrest gives the peace sign.

FORREST (voice-over) And just like that, she was gone out of my life again.

INT. VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL/REC ROOM - DAY

A footage of Neil Armstrong's first step on the moon on television.

NEIL ARMSTRONG (on TV) That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. The, uh, the surface is fine and powdery. I can, I can pick it up loosely.

Forrest demonstrates a ping-pong to some wounded vets.

FORREST (voice-over) I thought I was going back to Vietnam, but instead, they decided the best way for me to fight communists was to play ping-pong. So I was in the Special Services, traveling around the country cheering up all them wounded veterans and showing them how to play...

BUS STOP - PRESENT - DAY

Forrest looks at a man.

FORREST ... ping-pong. I was so good that some years later...

EXT. CHINA/PING-PONG TOURNAMENT - FLASHBACK - DAY

Forrest plays ping-pong against a Chinese player. A large mural of Mao Tse-tung hangs on the wall. A crowd of communist leaders sit and watch.

FORREST (voice-over) .. the Army decided I should be on the All-American Ping-Pong Team. We were the first Americans to visit the land of China in like a million years or something like that, and somebody said that world peace was in our hands. But all I did was play ping-pong. When I got home...

BUS STOP - PRESENT - DAY

FORREST ... I was national celebrity. Famouser even than Captain Kangaroo.

Color footage of the DICK CAVETT Show. Dick Cavett stands up as he introduces Forrest.

DICK CAVETT Here he is, Forrest Gump, right here.

Forrest makes his way onto the stage, shakes hands with Dick Cavett.

DICK CAVETT Mr. Gump, have a seat.

Forrest sits down between JOHN LENNON and Dick Cavett.

DICK CAVETT Forrest Gump, John Lennon.

JOHN LENNON Welcome home.

DICK CAVETT You had quite a trip. Can you, uh, tell us,

uh, what was China like?

John Lennon lights a cigarette.

FORREST Well, in the land of China, people hardly got nothing at all.

JOHN LENNON No possessions?

FORREST And in China, they never go to church.

JOHN LENNON No religion, too?

DICK CAVETT Oh. Hard to imagine.

JOHN LENNON Well, it's easy if you try, Dick.

Forrest looks oddly at John Lennon.

ORREST (voice-over) Some years later, that nice young man from England was on his way home to see his little boy and was signing some autographs. For no particular reason at all, somebody shot him.

EXT. STUDIO - LATER

A guard lets Forrest out a side entrance door. Forrest steps, an then stops as he hears s man sitting in a wheelchair speak to him.

LT. DAN They gave you the Congressional Medal of Honor.

FORREST Now that's Lieutenant Dan. Lieutenant Dan!

Forrest looks at Lt. Dan. He is a dirty with long hair.

LT. DAN They gave you the Congressional Medal of Honor!

FORREST Yes sir, they sure did.

LT. DAN They gave you an imbecile, a moron who goes on television and makes a fool out himself in front of the whole damn country, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

FORREST Yes, sir.

LT. DAN Well, then, that's just perfect! Yeah, well I just got one thing to say to that. Goddamn bless America.

Lt. Dan's wheelchair begins to slide down the ramp and spins around on the icy ground. Forrest looks down at Lt. Dan crashes at the bottom of the ramp.

FORREST Lieutenant Dan!

EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREETS - NIGHT

Taxi cabs crowd the street as Forrest pushes Lt. Dan along the sidewalk.

FORREST (voice-over) Lieutenant Dan said he was living in a hotel. And because he didn't have no legs, he spent most of his time exercising his arms.

LT. DAN Take a right, take a right.

A taxi driver honks his horn as Forrest wheels Lt. Dan out in front of the taxi.

TAXI DRIVER #1 Hey! Come on already!

LT. DAN Ah!

FORREST What are you doing here in New York, Lieutenant Dan?

LT. DAN I'm living off the government tit. Sucking it dry.

A taxi skids to a stop, almost hitting them as they cross the street. The taxi honks at Lt. Dan. Lt. Dan slaps the bumper of the taxi.

LT. DAN Hey! Hey! Hey! Are you blind? I'm walking here! Ah, get out...

TAXI DRIVER #2 Why don't you go home before you kill yourself? Get out of the way!

LT. DAN Come on, go! Go! Go!

EXT. LT. DAN'S HOTEL ROOM - LATER

A Bob Hope Christmas special in Vietnam on television. Lt. Dan and Forrest watch the television.

FORREST (voice-over) I stayed with Lieutenant Dan and celebrated the holidays.

BOB HOPE You have a great year and hurry home. God bless you.

LT. DAN Have you found Jesus yet, Gump?

FORREST I didn't know I was supposed to be looking

for him, sir.

Lt. Dan chuckles, drinks the rest of a bottle of wine and tosses it down. He looks at Forrest. He wheels himself over to television and turns it off.

LT. DAN That's all these cripples, down at the V.A., that's all they ever talk about.

Lt. Dan picks up another bottle of port wine, but it is empty. He tosses it onto the floor.

LT. DAN Jesus this and Jesus that. Have I found Jesus? They even had a priest come and talk to me. He said God is listening, but I have to help myself. Now, if I accept Jesus into my heart, I'll get to walk beside him in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Lt. Dan tosses the empty liquor bottle down and picks another bottle. He becomes enraged as he throws the bottle and looks at Forrest.

LT. DAN Did you hear what I said? Walk beside him in the Kingdom of Heaven. Well, kiss my crippled ass. God is listening. What a crock of shit.

FORREST I'm going to heaven, Lieutenant Dan.

LT. DAN Huh? Ah, well, before you go, why don't you get your ass down to the corner and get us another bottle of wine.

FORREST Yes, sir.

INT. TIMES SQUARE BAR - NIGHT

A television shows DICK CLARK as he emcees the Times Square New York Eve celebration.

DICK CLARK

We are at approximately 45th Street in New York City at One Astor Plaza. This is the site of the old Astor Hotel. Down below us, well over a hundred thousand people are milling about, cheering with horns and whistles and hats...

LT. DAN What the hell's in Bayou La Batre?

FORREST Shrimpin' boats.

LT. DAN Shrimpin' boats? Who gives a shit about

FORREST I gotta buy me one of them shrimpin' boats as soon as I have some money. I make me a promise to Bubba in Vietnam, that as soon as the war was over, we'd go in partners. He'd be the captain of the shrimpin' boat and I'd be his first mate. But now that he's dead, that means that I gotta be the captain.

LT. DAN A shrimp boat captain.

FORREST Yes, sir. A promise is a promise, Lieutenant Dan.

LT. DAN Now hear this! Private Gump here is gonna be a shrimp boat captain. Well, I tell you what, Gilligan, the day that you are a shrimp boat captain, I will come and be your first mate.

FORREST Okay.

LT. DAN If you're ever a shrimp boat captain, that's the day I'm an astronaut.

Two sleazy women, named LENORE and CARLA, walk up to Lt. Dan.

LENORE Danny, what are you complaining about?

CARLA What are you doing, huh?

LENORE Mr. Hot Wheels. Who's your friend?

FORREST My name is Forrest, Forrest Gump.

LT. DAN This is Cunning Carla, and Long-Limbs Lenore.

Carla puts a "Happy New Year" crown on Lt. Dan's head. Lenore fixes her makeup.

CARLA So where you been, baby-cakes, huh? Haven't seen you around lately. You know, you should have been here for Christmas 'cause Tommy bought a round on the house and gave everybody a turkey sandwich.

LT. DAN Well, well, I had, uh, company.

LENORE Hey, hey! We was, we was just there. That's at the Times Square.

Lenore leans and speaks into Forrest's ear.

LENORE Don't you just love New Year's? You get to start all over.

CARLA Hey, Lenore.

LENORE Everybody gets a second chance.

FORREST (voice-over) It's funny, but in the middle of all that fun, I began to think about .

DICK CLARK (on television) ... getting wild out there. It's beginning to...

INT. APARTMENT/L.A. - NIGHT

The New Year's Eve celebration over the T.V.

DICK CLARK (over television) ... pour here in Times Square. It's been off-and-on all night, but these people hang in there. fills her bag with her belongings. FORREST (voice-over) Wondering how she was spending her New Year's night out in California.

A man lies passed out on the bed. looks at her black eye in a mirror, then leaves the apartment. The TV shows the ball in Times Square.

CROWD (over television) 9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...

INT. TIMES SQUARE BAR - NIGHT

The ball is lowered, lighting up a sign that reads "1972."

CROWD (over television) ...1! Happy New Year!

The people in the bar cheer and kiss each other. They blow horns and toss confetti into the air. Forrest looks around as Carla and Lenore lean over and kiss him.

PATRONS (sing) "Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind... FORREST Happy New Year, Lieutenant Dan!

PATRONS (sing) Should auld acquaintance be

forgot and days of auld lang syne."

INT. LT. DAN'S HOTEL ROOM - LATER

Carla removes her top and sits on top of Dan in his wheelchair. They kiss and play around. Forrest sits in a chair. Lenore leaps on him and begins to kiss Forrest. She reaches down to Forrest's crotch. Forrest stands up nervously, causing Lenore to fall down on the floor. Lenore stands up, angry.

LENORE What are you, stupid or something? What's your problem? What's his problem? Did you lose your pecker in the war or something?

CARLA What, is your friend stupid or something?

LT. DAN What did you say?

CARLA I said, is your friend stupid or something?

LT. DAN Hey! Don't call him stupid!

Lt. Dan throws Carla back onto the bed.

CARLA Don't push me like that!

LENORE Hey, don't you push her!

LT. DAN You shut up! Don't you ever call him stupid!

CARLA What's the matter, baby? Why you treating me like shit?

LT. DAN Get the hell out of here!

LENORE You stupid gimp. You belong in "Ripley's Believe It Or Not."

LT. DAN Get the hell out of here! Go on!

LENORE You should be in a side show!

LT. DAN Go on! Get out of here! Get out of here!

LENORE You big loser!

CARLA Come on, Lenore. We don't need this shit!

LENORE You're so pathetic.

LT. DAN Get out of here!

Lt. Dan falls out of his wheelchair and lands down on the floor. Carla and Lenore laugh as they leave the apartment.

CARLA You retard!

LENORE You loser! You freak!

Forrest tries to help Lt. Dan. Lt. Dan pushes Forrest away.

LT. DAN No!

Forrest steps back as Lt. Dan flips back over, then pulls himself back up onto his wheelchair. He breathes heavily.

FORREST I'm sorry I ruined your New Year's Eve party, Lieutenant Dan. She tastes like cigarettes.

FORREST (voice-over) I guess Lieutenant Dan figured there's some things you just can't change. He didn't want to be called crippled, just like I didn't want to be called stupid.

LT. DAN Happy New Year.

EXT. WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT

An ANCHORMAN reports in front of the White House.

ANCHORMAN

The U.S. Ping-Pong Team met with President Nixon today at an Oval Office ceremony...

FORREST (voice-over) And wouldn't you know it...

PRESENT - BUS STOP

Forrest looks at the fat man on the bus bench.

FORREST ... a few months later they invited me and the ping-pong team to visit the White House. So I went again. And I met the President of the United States again.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - DAY

A plaque, presented to Forrest, reads "Presented to Forrest Gump, member of the United States table tennis team as player of the year for 1971. President NIXON holds the plaque.

FORREST (voice-over) Only this time they didn't get us rooms in a real fancy hotel.

PRESIDENT NIXON So are you enjoying yourself in our national capital, young man?

FORREST Yes, sir.

PRESIDENT NIXON Well, where are you staying?

FORREST It's called the Hotel Ebbott.

PRESIDENT NIXON Oh, no, no, no, no. I know of a much nicer hotel. It's brand-new. Very modern. I'll have my people take

care of it for you.

INT. WATERGATE HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Forrest speaks on the phone.

SECURITY GUARD Security, Frank Wills.

Forrest steps over to a window. Flashlights are moving around in an office across from Forrest's room.

FORREST Yeah, sir, you might want to send a maintenance man over to that office across the way. The lights are off, and they must be looking for the fuse box or something, 'cause them flashlights they're, they're keeping me awake.

SECURITY GUARD Okay, sir. I'll check it out.

FORREST Thank you.

SECURITY GUARD No problem.

FORREST Good night

SECURITY GUARD Good night.

Forrest hangs up the phone. The camera tilts down, revealing the hotel stationary, which reads "The Watergate Hotel."

INT. GYMNASIUM - DAY

President Nixon makes a resignation speech on TV.

PRESIDENT NIXON (over television)

Therefore, I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow.

The television cuts to a shot of President Nixon standing outside Air Force One with his hands in the peace sign.

PRESIDENT NIXON (over television) Vice President Ford will be sworn in as President at hat hour in this office. As I recall the high hopes for America with which we began this second term, I feel a great sadness that I will not be here in this office...

Forrest is playing ping-pong by himself at the gymnasium. An officer steps up to him.

OFFICER Sergeant Gump!

FORREST Yes, sir!

OFFICER As you were. I have your discharge papers. Your service is up, son.

The officer hands Forrest an envelope, then walks away.

FORREST Does this mean I can't play ping-pong no more?

OFFICER For the Army it does.

FORREST (voice-over) And just like that, my service in the United States Army was over. So I went home.

Forrest takes his paddle and runs out of the gymnasium.

EXT. GUMP HOUSE - DAY

walks out of the house and smiles. Forrest walks up to the house, wearing his uniform.

FORREST I'm home, Momma. I know, I know.

INT. GUMP HOUSE and Forrest walk into the house.

Louise, he's here. He's here, everybody.

FORREST (voice-over) Now, when I got home, I had no idea that Momma had had all sorts of visitors. In the house are stacks of ping-pong paddles and life-sized cardboard cutouts of Forrest playing ping-pong. The name on the ping-pong paddles boxes reads "Gump-Mao table tennis."

LOUISE We've had all sorts of visitors, Forrest. Everybody wants you to use their ping-pong stuff. One man even left a check for twenty-five thousand dollars if you'd be agreeable to saying you like using their paddle.

FORREST Oh, Momma. I only like using my own paddle.

Hi, Miss Louise.

LOUISE Hey, Forrest. I know that. I know that. But it's twenty-five thousand dollars, Forrest. I thought maybe you could hold it for a while, see if it grows on you. Oh, you look good, Forrest. You look real good.

FORREST (voice-over) That Momma, she sure was right.

It's funny how things work out.

EXT. BAYOU LA BATRE/BUBBA'S MOM'S HOUSE - DAY

Forrest walks up to a shack on the edge of the Bayou. A group of black kids play in the front yard.

FORREST (voice-over) I didn't stay home for long, because I'd made a promise to Bubba. And I always try to keep my promise. So I went on down to Bayou La Batre to meet Bubba's family and make their introduction.

Bubba's mother named MRS. BLUE and her other children look at Forrest.

MRS. BLUE Are you crazy, or just plain stupid?

FORREST Stupid is as stupid does, Mrs. Blue.

MRS. BLUE I guess.

EXT. BUBBA'S GRAVE - DAY

Forrest steps over to Bubba's tombstone.

FORREST (voice-over) And of course, I paid my respect to Bubba himself.

FORREST Hey, Bubba, it's me, Forrest Gump. I remember everything you said, and I got it all figured out.

Forrest pulls out notes from his pocket.

FORREST I'm taking the twenty-four thousand, five hundred and six-two dollars and forty-seven cents that I got...

EXT. BAYOU - DAY

Forrest walks across a yard where men are cleaning shrimp.

FORREST (voice-over) ... well, that's left after a new hair cut and a new suit and I took Momma out to real fancy dinner and I bought a bus ticket and three Doctor Peppers.

Forrest walks along a wooden pier. Forrest pays an old black shrimper a large wad of cash.

OLD SHRIMPER Tell me something. Are you stupid or something?

FORREST Stupid is as stupid does, sir.

EXT. BUBBA'S GRAVE

Forrest stands at the grave.

FORREST Well, that's what's left after me saying, "When I was in China on the All-America Ping-Pong Team, I just loved playing ping-pong with my Flex-O-Ping-Pong Paddle." Which everybody knows it isn't true, but Momma says it's just a little white lie so it wouldn't hurt nobody. So, anyway, I'm putting all that on gas, ropes and new nets and a brand-new shrimpin' boat.

EXT. BAYOU - DAY

Forrest steers his shrimping boat. The boat is old and rusty. Forrest unleashes his nets as his catch of the day drops to the deck. It is a bunch of garbage and shells. Forrest picks up one shrimp.

FORREST (voice-over) Now, Bubba had told me everything he knows about shrimpin', but you know what I found out? Shrimpin' is tough.

EXT. DOCKS

Forrest pulls a couple of shrimp out of a bucket.

FORREST I only caught five.

OLD SHRIMPER A couple of more, you can have yourself a cocktail.

The old shrimper begins to walk away, then stops and looks at Forrest.

OLD SHRIMPER Hey, you ever think about namin' this old boat?

FORREST (voice-over) I'd never named a boat before, but there was only one I could think of.

Forrest paints a name on the side of his boat. The name is "."

FORREST (voice-over)

The most beautiful name in the wide world.

INT. DISCO

Disco lights flash and people dance. A guy asks a girl to dance.

GIRL Okay. sits at a table with some other people. She is snorting cocaine.

FORREST (voice-over) Now, I hadn't heard from in a long while. But...

EXT. BAYOU LA BATRE - DAY

Forrest stands at the helm as the boat glides across the water.

FORREST (voice-over) But I thought about her a lot. And I hoped that whatever she was doing made her happy.